Cheerful Giver

Why is church here on the earth? Church is to be called to declare the gospel and manifest the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the world in darkness. It’s obvious that church is not building but the people who are called by God’s grace. Church is the frontline battlefield to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ for the people who are in the shadow of death. This is the ultimate goal of the church of Christ on earth. There is no need to set up the new goals and even stratagem of the church of Christ. It’s because the goal and strategy have been set by the Head of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ. The goal of church is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, the strategy, the Holy Spirit run the church of Christ according to the will of God, and the tactic, church obey whatever the Spirit moves and directs.

How could we achieve the goal of the church of Christ? Of course, it is not through the church-invented programs like disciple making ministry and anything else but through the transformation of the people within and without by the grace of Jesus Christ the Lord. Yes, transformation and change manifested and demonstrated among the people who are touched and contacted by the gospel of Christ Jesus in the midst of just humdrum ordinary lives.

For example, Christians are willing to give than to receive because Jesus Christ laid down His life for the peoples of nations. Jesus Christ is always and eternally giving everything out unto anyone in need. If comfort is in need, then He gives comfort, consolation, consolation, mercy, mercy, light, light, power, power, understanding, understanding, love, love, peace, peace, joy, joy, strength, strength, and everything. Jesus Christ invites anyone to come unto Him and drink the living water springing up to eternal life (John 4:13-14). Christians receive freely so much, so give freely and cheerfully (Matthew 10:8).

What we receive from the heaven above is righteousness through the blood of Christ Jesus (Romans 3:21). We are redeemed and liberated from the bondage of sin and death (Ephesians 1:7). There is no condemnation to those who are in Jesus Christ the Lord (Romans 8:1). We are set free by the word of truth (John 8:31,32).

Therefore, Christians live now and forever on the completely new arrangement of life just as our Lord Jesus Christ lived on the earth. The new terms of life is “I in Christ, Christ in me.” We individually are united with Jesus Christ by the faith in His death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:1-11). We belong to Christ in body, soul, and spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). So, we obey Him everything, even a breath of life. We live in Him, through Him, by Him, on Him, for Him, and with Him forever.

That’s the new way of living for Christians. We no longer live by the standard way of living in the world -- rivalry and competition. Apostle Paul admonishes the saints in the first century and us in the twenty-first century. “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NKJV)